Chiefs RB DeAndre Washington praises Kelechi Osemele: ‘One of my favorite O-Linemen’

The two new members of the Kansas City Chiefs were teammates in Oakland from 2016-2018.

A pair of free-agent acquisitions by the Chiefs find themselves reunited in Kansas City.

DeAndre Washington and Kelechi Osemele both played for the Oakland Raiders together over the course of four seasons. They started playing together in 2016 when Washington was first drafted and Osemele was signed as a free agent. Washington would play with Osemele during two of his best seasons, the first coming in 2016 when he was selected for the Pro Bowl and named first-team All-Pro. That season was also among Washington’s best, averaging 5.4 yards per carry, catching 74% of his passes and scoring two touchdowns.

Reunited in Kansas City, Washington described what Osemele is bringing to the Chiefs’ offense.

“He’s a dog, man. He’s one of a kind, man,” Washington said. “As a running back, he’s one of those guys that you enjoy running behind. He’s going to make sure that he imposes his will on whoever’s lined up in front of him. He’s going to finish guys. Kelechi’s one of my favorite O-Linemen I’ve ever played with, hands down.”

Football is one of the rare scenarios that when someone calls you a “dog” and it’s a good thing. This is delightful news because the Chiefs have been missing that tone-setting offensive lineman. Now it’d seem they’ve found that type of player in Osemele. He’ll go all out to protect his teammates and they’re going to love him for it.

A good offensive lineman is a running back’s best friend. With these two players reunited in Kansas City, perhaps they can do some more damage together in the running game.

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Chiefs RB DeAndre Washington likens Clyde Edwards-Helaire to Josh Jacobs

Washington mentored Jacobs as a rookie with Oakland last season, now he’ll do the same with Edwards-Helaire in Kansas City.

Kansas City Chiefs RB DeAndre Washington finds himself in a familiar situation with his new team.

The Oakland Raiders spent pick No. 24 in the 2019 NFL Draft on Alabama RB Josh Jacobs. Washington was suddenly part of a rotation that featured Jacobs and included Jalen Richard. In 2020, after joining the Chiefs as a free agent, Kansas City drafted Clyde Edwards-Helaire at pick No. 32 in the draft. Once again, Washington finds himself in a situation where he looks to be part of a rotation. He didn’t fret, though. Washington knows that it’s a long season and his opportunity will come.

The situations are so similar that it’s a bit uncanny. Washington even likens the two young running backs to each other. He’s been advising Edwards-Helaire just as he did with Jacobs in 2019.

“[It’s] a pretty similar experience,” Washington began. “Both – I feel like they’re both great backs, great strengths to their game. My experience with Josh (Jacobs) last year and like the same thing I told Clyde (Edwards-Helaire), it’s a long season, just take care of your body. Guys are going roll, guys are going to get reps and he doesn’t have to feel like he takes every rep or be the guy right now.”

As a rookie, Jacobs had 242 carries for 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games started. He also caught 20 passes for 166 yards. A shoulder injury caused Jacobs to miss the last three games of the season. That’s when Washington had to step up for the Raiders.

Washington understands the angst of being a rookie. In his rookie season in 2016, he appeared in 14 games and started in two, rushing for 467 yards and two touchdowns. After working with Jacobs last season, he also knows how to be a supportive teammate to a blossoming star.

“I understand you’re coming in as a rookie, you’re hungry,” Washington continued. “I want him to shine. And Josh would get hot in the game, I would tell Josh to stay in the game, no reason to come out. I know we’re in a rotation, but you’re hot, stay in the game and keep it going. And I’ll keep that same energy with Clyde. Any game I give him, just from my experience, I’m definitely going to shoot it out to him and I’m looking forward see him shine.”

A supportive, yet competitive running back room in Kansas City will only help each of these players improve and be the best possible version of themselves during the 2020 season. Washington’s support to the rookie Edwards-Helaire is already defining the type of teammate and player that he’ll be with Chiefs.

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Chiefs RB DeAndre Washington discusses reunion with Texas Tech teammate Patrick Mahomes

A full-circle moment for Washington to be back and playing with Mahomes.

A pair of former college teammates have been reunited on the Kansas City Chiefs offense this season.

Chiefs free agent acquisition DeAndre Washington played with QB Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. The two developed quite a chemistry, accounting for exactly 12,300 yards of total offense over the course of two seasons in Lubbock, Texas. Now, reunited in Kansas City, Washington had a chance to reflect on the full-circle moment.

“It’s just crazy how life sometimes comes full circle,” Washington said. “Kind of seeing him in his beginning stages at [Texas Tech] and then to see him kind of elevate to the stage he’s at now, man. It’s been a pleasure to see it. [I’m] definitely excited to be back playing with him.”

Washington claims he always knew that Mahomes would become the player that he is today. He’s still in awe of the things that he’s capable of doing on the practice field.

“100 percent, man,” Washington said. “The crazy thing is… his practice film is scarier than his game film when he’s kind of just winging it and doing what he wants to do. On the practice field, he’s got some pretty exciting plays. Some guys you play with just kind of have the it-factor and he’s one of those guys. He’s a guy that’s just able to make plays that most guys can’t make and he did that in high school, he did that in college and he’s still doing it now.”

Back in college, during the 2015 season, Washington and Mahomes formed a dynamic duo for Texas Tech. Washington seems to believe that they fed off each other’s energy and it helped keep defenses off-balance, unable to defend both the running game and the passing game.

“Just being able to feed off of each other’s energy,” Washington said. “When you have a quarterback like that, guys can’t really key in on the run game. So that opened up opportunities for me. Having a successful run game opened up opportunities for our passing game, being able to go over the top of guys. I think it was just kind of feeding off of each other’s energy. We kind of got hot early and momentum just rolled through the season offensively. I wish we could have won a few more games, of course. But on offense, we were hot for sure.”

There’s still a little chemistry between Washington and Mahomes from their college days, but they also got together during the offseason for some private workouts in order to get a feel for working together again.

“We were able to get a few workouts in this offseason to kind of kickstart it a little bit,” Washington said. “I think over these next few weeks especially, once we start to amp things up a little bit, we’ll maybe get more acclimated. It’s just been good to be back out there with him and be back out there with these guys. New teammates, new environment, new energy — it’s an exciting time right now. The guys are coming off a Super Bowl win. So guys are definitely very excited, very confident, which I love. I was looking to come in and compete, to show what I can do and make my mark on this offense.”

As Washington looks to compete and earn an opportunity in Kansas City, he’ll also look to reforge the connection with Mahomes that saw great success at Texas Tech.

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4 things to know about new Chiefs RB DeAndre Washington

Get to know the newest running back for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs recently agreed to terms with running back DeAndre Washington on a one-year deal. That deal has since been made official by Kansas City. Washington joins a crowded backfield, but his familiarity with Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and OC Eric Bieniemy could give him an advantage in making the team.

Washington spoke to the Kansas City media for the first time in a conference call on Wednesday. Here are four things the Chiefs Kingdom should know about their newest player:

Washington and Mahomes are close

You’ve certainly heard by now that Washington and Mahomes played together at Texas Tech from 2014-15. When Mahomes came in as a freshman, Washington was already a junior for the Red Raiders. At first, Washington didn’t really know what to expect out of Mahomes. But he quickly realized how special Pat was, that he had the “it” factor.

“[It was] kind of a similar excitement [to what it is now],” Washington told reporters of playing with Mahomes. “It was kind of weird because when Pat came in we had Baker Mayfield and another quarterback named Davis Webb at the time. So, it was pretty intense watching all three of those guys at practice. You know, one went on to win the Heisman and three ended up getting drafted, so it was a good feelings being able to play with all of those guys. It was exciting. Pat does some things that you can’t coach. Being able to play with and experience that during college was definitely a fun experience.”

Even in the NFL, Washington remained friendly with Mahomes. He claims to have been one of his biggest supporters when Mahomes decided to come out for the NFL Draft because of the things he saw at Texas Tech.

When it came to making a decision during this free agency period, Washington spoke to Mahomes in confidence, trying to find out as much as he could about Kansas City and the team. Without those conversations, it’s possible that Washington would have ended up on another team.

“When I was getting down to it, I called him and just kind of got some insight, a perspective on what he enjoyed the most from some things outside of football that we talked about,” Washington said. “Once I told him I was interested, he was definitely on board and trying to get me in… We had a few conversations prior to the decision and after talking with him, I felt a lot more comfortable about making that decision.”

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Eric Bieniemy recruited new Chiefs RB DeAndre Washington at Colorado

The newest Kansas City Chiefs RB also has a relationship with offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

In most walks of life, opportunities are about who you know. That remains the same for football, even at the NFL level.

New free agent signing DeAndre Washington knows a few notable people on the Kansas City Chiefs. The most obvious connection is that he played his college football with star QB Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech. But it is actually another relationship forged many years ago that might have brought Washington to Kansas City.

When Washington spoke to the media on Wednesday afternoon, he was asked about the coaching staff and what he knows about how the Chiefs utilize their running backs. Washington first praised head coach Andy Reid, but what he revealed about offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was unique.

“First of all, I’m a huge fan of Andy Reid,” Washington said. “I’ve followed him way back since I could really understand football. I’m a big fan of his and his play calling and just the way he utilizes his weapons. Funny story, Coach Bieniemy actually recruited me at Colorado back in his Colorado days, so we have a relationship that goes back to then. Just watching those guys over the course of the year it kind of seems like everyone’s involved. No matter the horsepower they got, and they got some serious horsepower in that offense, Coach Reid has a unique way of getting everyone involved. I’m definitely looking forward to coming in and making some plays with that group.”

When Bieniemy was with the offensive coordinator at Colorado, he actually recruited Washington to join the Buffaloes. Washington ultimately went with the Red Raiders, but Bieniemy still forged a bond with him. Now, years later, the two have a chance to work together in what is the most explosive offense in the NFL. So while other teams like the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals had an interest in Washington, the trump card had to do with the familiarity with both Mahomes and Bieniemy.

As for Washington’s role on the Chiefs’ offense, he already has the right mindset to come in and work as part of the team. To get involved alongside his teammates and carve out a unique role for himself. That’ll help him go far in his new opportunity alongside a coach that wanted to work with him all along.

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WATCH: Highlights of new Chiefs RB DeAndre Washington

Get to know how the newest Kansas City Chiefs running back plays.

The Kansas City Chiefs are reuniting a powerhouse duo from their college football days.

On Wednesday, reports broke that the Chiefs would sign free agent RB DeAndre Washington, who played with Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech. In his young NFL career, the 27-year-old Washington played for the Chiefs’ AFC West division rival, the Oakland Raiders.

In the last two games of the regular season in 2019, Washington was the lead back for the Raiders, starting in place of injured rookie RB Josh Jacobs. During those final two games, Washington had 50 touches for 238 yards and a touchdown. Those two games just happened to come against the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers.

DeAndre Washington vs. Los Angles Chargers, Week 16

In the NFL, Washington has showcased impressive vision and the ability to make players miss in the open field. He’s proven to be a tough runner between the tackles and he has some impressive burst to his game. He has a low center of gravity at 5-8 and 210 pounds, it makes him tough to tackle on first contact.

Prior to his NFL days, Washington had some standout moments alongside Mahomes.

Texas Tech RB DeAndre Washington vs. Kansas State

One thing the Chiefs will need to watch out for with Washington is fumbles. Washington didn’t have a single fumble during his college career spanning 729 touches. In the NFL, Washington has put the ball on the ground four times in 370 touches.

Texas Tech RB DeAndre Washington vs. West Virginia

Initially, I felt like Washington was coming in to compete with some of the guys at the bottom of the depth chart. After watching some more film I tend to get the feeling that Washington might see more competition against players like Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson.

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Report: Chiefs to sign former Texas Tech RB DeAndre Washington

Former Texas Tech RB DeAndre Washington is signing a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to add competition for their running back room.

According to a report from Yahoo Sports’ Terez Paylor, the Chiefs have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with RB DeAndre Washington.

Washington is a former college teammate of Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders and has appeared in 55 games for Oakland over the past four seasons.

Washington’s top season as a professional came in 2019, where he started three games for the Raiders and rushed for 387 yards and three scores on 108 attempts. The best part of his game, however, is his ability to catch the football. He added 36 receptions for 292 yards in 2019.

The Chiefs have agreed to a one-year deal with RB DeAndre Washington, a source tells me.

— Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) April 8, 2020

Developing…

Free agent options at RB for Cardinals outside of Kenyan Drake

See what backs could be in play for the Cardinals in free agency.

The Arizona Cardinals want to re-sign running back Kenyan Drake this offseason after the second half of the season he had for the team following his trade to Arizona. However, that might not happen, as he seeks a big payday.

If they are unable to bring Drake back, they will still likely try and sign a veteran running back in free agency, whether or not they trade David Johnson.

Who are some possibilities if Drake does not return?

Carlos Hyde

Hyde is 28 years old and rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2019. It was the first time he did so in his career. He can also catch the ball. He only had 10 catches in 2019 for the Houston Texans, but he had 59 in 2017 for the San Francisco 49ers. Arizona Sports 98.7 FM’s John Gambadoro says Hyde is a potential target for the Cardinals and he would fit. His projected market value is a two-year deal worth about $6 million. He could be a lead back for the team.

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5 backup running backs the Jets should target in free agency

Jets Wire takes a look at five running backs the Jets should target in free agency this offseason.

In 2019, the Jets ranked fourth in the NFL behind the Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots in terms of running back spending by cap dollars. New York allocated over $10 million to five different backs.

Now, with Le’Veon Bell’s at the top of the depth chart, New York ranks only second to Los Angeles in spending by cap dollars at the position. Gang Green will be searching for a backup to its All-Pro back, as Ty Montgomery was ineffective in limited use and Bilal Powell is getting up there in age.

Jalin Moore, an undrafted free agent out of Appalachian State, Josh Adams, Trenton Cannon and Kenneth Dixon still remain on the roster, but none of them have proven they can be a legitimate option behind Bell. The Jets need experience there, and free agency is the best place to find it.

With that said, here are five backup running backs the Jets should target in free agency.

Jordan Howard

When healthy, Jordan Howard was the perfect complement to Eagles rookie Miles Sanders.

Joe Douglas was part of the Chicago Bears personnel department that took Howard in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Douglas was then with the Philadelphia front office that sent a sixth-round pick to Chicago for Howard. If nothing else, the connections to Howard are there.

Howard appeared in 10 games and recorded 525 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns in 2019. He missed six games after suffering a shoulder injury in Week 9.

Howard is by no means flashy and won’t get any premier offers to be a team’s No. 1 back, but he’s proven to be a perfect complementary piece. He would pair excellently with Le’Veon Bell. The problem the Jets face is if Howard is willing to see a decrease in snaps due to Bell’s workhorse nature. That remains to be seen, but the Jets should definitely attempt to court Howard in free agency regardless.

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5 possible free agent RBs for the Cardinals

Arizona has a lot of interesting decisions to make in free agency – one of which is what happens if they can’t re-sign Kenyan Drake?

With free agency less than two months away now, Arizona Cardinals fan are eagerly anticipating what the team will do to shore up the team for the second year of Kyler Murray.

One of the positions that is most in flux at the moment is the running back (as discussed here). With the unknown of what will happen with David Johnson and Kenyan Drake, here are five options for Arizona in 2020, starting with the most obvious:

Kenyan Drake

The obvious choice, should they find a way to deal away David Johnson and should he not cost an excessive amount of money, would be Drake. 643 yards rushing and 171 receiving in eight games would be tricky to replace, but not impossible should someone outbid the Cardinals. If that is the case, they could look to four other names.

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